Group calls for Fayemi’s disqualification

An interest group in Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC), has called for the disqualification of Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, from the party’s primary.

The group, the Concerned APC Members, insisted that Fayemi should be disqualified for allegedly refusing to resign from the federal cabinet and his indictment by the state government.

Addressing a briefing in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, the group’s Coordinator, Dr. Ifeolu Olubusuyi, said party members are concerned that Fayemi’s candidacy could trigger litigation if he wins the primary.

He argued that Fayemi ought to have resigned thirty days “before any election” adding that the minister has failed to fulfill a party guideline that an aspirant seeking the party’s nomination should not be indicted by a judicial panel or awaiting any criminal court charges.

Olubusuyi, said: “We are concerned and advise that the APC headquarters must adhere strictly to its own rules and disqualifies whoever has not met the minimum conditions for governorship as indicated by the constitution and guidelines.

“We are also aware of the guidelines of the APC for qualification as an aspirant for governorship and there was a specific question as to whether someone has been indicted at home or abroad by a judicial panel or awaiting any criminal court charges.

“We are also conscious of the specification regarding 30 days minimum condition for resignation from office before any election, which Fayemi has not met.”

The group vowed to challenge Fayemi’s candidacy in court, if eventually emerge as the flag bearer in spite of these open alleged constitutional breaches.

But the Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said his boss has not violated any law in his quest for the governorship nomination of his party.

He said: “They are ignorant of the working of the party and the law of the land. You can’t sit down in your house and determine who is going to be disqualified. The party has a machinery to look at every case in its merit and that is why you have the screening committee.

“There is due process of nomination and screening before you even gets to the primary. There is no law in the land that says that a serving minister should vacate his seat before primary.

“What the law says is 30 days before election. As a matter of fact the honourable minister has been granted leave. He applied for leave and it will commence upper Monday.

“Talking about white paper, everybody knows that you can’t build something on nothing. The minister had earlier challenged the composition of that panel.

“The case is in court and that is why he did not appear before the panel. The white paper will not stand. It is only a court of competent jurisdiction that can recommend disqualification of Fayemi.”